Thermic circuit-closer.



R. R. WEBER.

THERMIC CIRCUIT CLOSER. APPLICATION mu) JUNE 10. 19M.

1 1 8 1 ,705 Patented May 2, 1916.

5 I 6. ZV'I/WZJJAS. 5/ e 7 i10en/ar 7% zr/f Meier LM fiw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT R. WEBER, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO MATTHIAS S. YEAGER AND ONE-THIRD T0 PHILANDER F. McKENZIE, BOTH 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

THERMIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thermic Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a thermic circuit closer.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device which is adapted to be operated on the rise of temperature to a predetermined degree to close a normally open electrical circuit for the purpose of sounding alarms and operating any desired mechanism in the electrical circuit.

A further object is to provide a device of 'the above character which comprises few parts which may be readily assembled and which is positive in its operation when subjected to a heat of predetermined degree of temperature.

The present invention embodies a pivoted spring pressed contact member normally held out of connection with a fixed contact member by means of an element formed of a material having sufficient body at normal temperatures to support the pivoted contact member, but which, when subjected to an abnormal temperature will collapse and permit the pivoted contact member to move into connection with the rigid contact member and thereby complete a circuit through said contact members. 1

The invention is illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is a "ertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

More specifically, 5 indicates a base member formed of any suitable insulating material and having a pair of longitudinally extending channels 6 and 7 formed on'its underside; these channels opening at their ends to the ends of the base member and are provided for the reception of electrical conductors 8 and 9, respectively. Formed in the inner walls of the channels 6 and 7 adjacent the opposite ends of the base member 5 are recesses 10 and 11, the inner ends of which are formed on arcs of circles, the center points of which are arranged in alinement with the longitudinal center of the base member 5. Formed in the base member and extending vertically therethrough adjacent the inner ends of the recesses 10 and 11 are openings through which the shanks of screws 12 and 13 extend; the lower ends of the screws 12 and 13 extending through the recesses 10 and 11 being threaded to receive nuts 14: and 15 which engage bent portions 16 and 17 of the conductors 8 and 9 which extend inwardly from the channels 6 and 7 around the shanks of the screws 12 and 13, as shown in Fig. 3.

The screw 13 is formed with a head 18 on its upper end which engages a metallic contact plate 19 supported on the upper face of the base plate 5. This contact plate 19 having an upwardly projecting portion 20 on its forward edge formed with a rearwardly inclined face 21. The contact plate 19 is clamped in place on the base member 5 by the screw 13 and nut 15 thereon. The upper end of the screw 12 projects a short distance above the upper face of the base plate 5 and is formed with a head 22; the shank of the screw 12 passing through an opening 23 formed in a plate contact member 24. The plate contact member 24 is formed with a down-turned end portion or leg 25 which engages a notch 26 formed in the top of the base member 5 extending transversely thereof adjacent the screw 12.

The outer end of the plate contact member is formed with a downwardly extending flange 27 the sides of which converge to form a knife contact edge 28 which is adapted to strike the inclined face 21 of the contact member 19 and scrape therefrom any corroded material which may have been formed thereon, thereby insuring good electrical contact. The plate contact member 24 is designed to be supported with its outer end out of contact with the contact member 19 for which purpose it is engaged with a stud 29 in the form of a screw, the shank of which passes through an aperture in the plate contact member 24 with its head engaging the underside thereof, the threaded upper portion of the stud extending through an aperture formed in a cover plate 31 having a downwardly extending marginal flange 32 which is connected to the side and end edges of the base member 5 by means of pins or screws 33. The upper end of the stud 29 is fitted with a washer 24 and a nut 35 and interposed between the washer 34 and the top of the plate 31 is a thermal member 36 which is designed to have sufficient rigidity or body at normal temperatures to support the shank 29 and the pivoted plate contact member 24 with the latter disposed in its uppermost position in opposition to a spring 37 wound on the shank of the screw and bearing between the head of the latter and the upper face of the plate contact member 24, as particularly shown in Fig. 2.

The thermal member may be of any suitable material, but is here shown as comprising a cylinder of wax or other composition which, when subjected to the action of heat at a predetermined degree of temperature will soften and collapse to permit the contact member 24 to move in connection with the contact member 19.

To facilitate the assembling of the device and to enable the renewal of the thermal member 36 the base member 5 is formed with an aperture 37 which extends therethrough at a point beneath the screw or stud 29 through which a tool such as a screw driver may be inserted and engaged with the kerf 38 on the headed portion of the screw 29 to secure the latter in and out of engagement with the nut 35. This aperture 37, after the device is assembled, is sealed by means of a wax plug 39 to prevent the passage of dust therethrough.

In the application and operation of the invention, the device is assembled as previously described and shown in the drawings and disposed at any suitable point. hen the temperature adjacent the device reaches a predetermined degree the thermal member 36 will collapse, thereby allowing the plate contact member 24 to be moved downwardly by the action of the spring 37 and its weight; the contact member 24 turning on its seat in a notch 12. The contact making edge 28 of the flange 27 on engaging the inclined face 21 of the contact member 19 has a slight scraping action on the latter-which removes any dust that might be deposited on the contact face 21 so as to insure a close contact between the edge 28 and the face 21 and thereby close the electrical circuit from the conductor 8 through the screw 12, contact member 24, contact member 19 and the conductor 9. The parts will then be in position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The device may be restored to an operative condition by removing the wax plug 39 and unscrewing the screw 29 from the nut 35 and renewing the collapsed thermal member 36, whereupon the contact member 24. will be redispo sed in its uppermost position.

As a means for protecting the thermal member 36 the latter may be covered by means of a screened cap 40 removably secured to the plate 31.

\Vhat I claim is;

1. A thermic contact maker, comprising a base plate, a stationary contact member thereon, a movable contact member having a finger formed on one end thereof extending into a notch on the upper face of said plate, a screw shank extending through a longitudinal slot in said movable contact member, a spring on said shank bearing upon said movable contact member adapted to move the latter into connection with the stationary contact member, a stud detachably engaging the movable contact member, and means operating on said stud to position the movable contact member out of engagement with the stationary contact member in opposition to the spring, said means adapted to collapse on being subjected to heat of a predetermined temperature.

2. A thermic contact maker, comprising a base plate, a stationary contact member thereon, a movable contact member having a finger formed on one end thereof extending into a notch on the upper face of said plate, a screw shank extending through a longitudinal slot in said movable contact member, a spring on said shank bearing upon said movable contact member adapted to move the latter, a housing inclosing .the aforementioned members, a stud detachably engaging the movable contact member and extending outside of the housing, and fusible means engaged with. said stud and said housing member on the outside of said housing.

3. A thermic contact maker, comprising a base plate, a stationary contact member thereon having an upstanding inclined portion, a movable contact member having a finger formed on one end thereof extending into a notch on the upper face of said plate, and a knife edge for making contact with said inclined portion on said stationary con tact, a screw shank extending through a longitudinal slot in said movable contact member, a spring on said shank bearing upon said movable contact member adapted to move the latter into connection with the stationary contact member, a stud detachably engaging the movable contact member and In Witness that I claim the foregoing I means operating on said stud toposition the have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th movable contact member out of engagement day of May, 1914,

with the stationary contact member in oppo- ROBERT R. WEBER. sition t0 the spring, said means adapted to \Vitnesses:

collapse on being subjected to heat of a pre- MARGUERITE BATES,

determined temperature. MARIE BATTEY. 

